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Sunday, 30 January 2011

Olympics up to Same Old Tricks

It's Sunday. Our only day to escape the horrendous noise from our ASBO deserving neighbours - the Olympics.

So what do they do? They start working on the ring road 5 metres from our bedrooms early in the morning!!

Thanks to everyone who helped shout at the idiots doing the work - but even they couldn't hear all our voices over the noise they were making,

Then the priceless 'hotline' answerer saying 'sorry' like she really meant it. But still took her time getting back to me, so I had to hurry her along, and all she did was pass some of the situation on to 'someone on site' - who had to call me in order to find out what's happening.

Then she called back about half hour later - to tell that they will be 20 more minutes!! And that she will pass this all on to the 'community relations team' - which means that they weren't even notified all along?!

Hey!!! Olympics!!! We are part of your community - relate to us!!

You know what? We used to be very pro olympics. We used to want to go & see some of the games. We used to want a legacy. We used to like you.........

It wasn't that early as I was walking past at 9.ooam and saw them start work. I also heard some of the abuse that was directed towards the workmen, some of which made me blush, and I work in the building game...

My mate that drives the buses on the Olympics told me that those barriers are to protect the ODAs buildings from flooding from the Thames Water main, so it was Thames Water after all. Judging by the size of those lights that are being moved in they're gonna be working 24/7 to replace that pipe. LBSQ - you need to contact that Kavoma bloke about this lot.

Been following this 'anonymous' from megarich construction co making derogatory comments about a poor Hackney estate not being able to afford chairs, and being ecofriendly by reusing dumped chairs. Seems to me you have a brilliant David vs Goliath press story here. Smart of you to trace their ip adress with exact times matching the comments.Please check your email inbox for my interest.

Thanks for the email. Let me get this straight.We - Londoners - are paying their wages. And this toerag sits there in front of their computer for all those hours - throwing all sorts of doo-doo over the canal. And we pay them to do it? What a hardhat wannabe?! What a sad little person?I say we go with the journo. Let's let the rest of London know what exactly they're paying for.Matt

Cheers. I still maintain that those sexist comments they made in the RSPB posting should be taken down, though I understood everyones point of showing just what some of their tame comments are like.I'm all for the actions as well.Meg

Good morning. I am the person who posted the earlier remarks. I am very sorry if they offended anyone, so would like to offer my apologies. They were a misguided attempt at a bit of light hearted humour on my part, and should not be connected with my employer. If they were made aware of this issue, I could be in a lot of trouble. Apologies again.

Around the time that people say they were still liking the Olympics Mr Roegge was busy shafting pensioners in the Beijing hutongs and nuns in Lhasa. What sort of set-up did you think you were engaging with? The word Games is mean to be understood in its figurative rather than literal sense where these people are concerned.

Sóna, isn't it funny how when you visit the link in 'Charlies' posting above. they don't allow any comments? What are they scared of?Do they think we might intimidate & insult them the same way 'anonymous' has been doing the past few months?Anna

Another funny thing Anna - is that I don't ever recall anyone from the noise abatement society coming down here to chat to us - do you? They certainly would've had bashed eardrums - from me or the diggers opposite........Paul

Anna, Paul, Noise Abatement Society have a 24 hour helpline at 01273 823850 (might be useful generally). You can also send them comments via their website at http://noiseabatementsociety.com/helpline-and-support/contact-us/ or by e-mail at info@noise-abatement.org

I really don't think John Connell set up NAS to enable JLARS and ODA to preen themselves over what they were inflicting on Leabank Square.

The NAS website has some interesting information including a comment about how John Connell drew attention to the problem of aircraft noise:

"On larger noise issues, he campaigned for the re-siting of Heathrow airport to Foulness on the coast to reduce aircraft noise over densely populated areas which would also be the safer option. He even organised a Japanese consortium to pay for the scheme, but the Government of that time did not share his vision. He was a man ahead of his time.

He woke up Duncan Sandys MP, the then Aviation Minister, at his home in the middle of the night. Mr Sandys appeared at his doorway in pyjamas much to the delight of the awaiting press photographers. That showed the Minister very effectively what it was like to be kept awake by noisy aircraft at 2am in the morning. Night flights were soon stopped!"

Maybe Gerard van de Aast would appreciate an early morning photocall with the press - not to mention the Wessels family who own VolkerFitzpatrick. Unfortunately I think they have continental breakfasts. If you want to know more about who you're up against http://www.volkerwessels.co.uk/Static/Common/VolkerWessels/Documents/OnlinePublisher/VW_UK2.html (maybe no better or worse than Balfour Beatty and all the others who play this major development - but it looks like they're the ones you're lumbered with)

I came across this statement of principle by VolkerWessels, the VolkerFitzpatrick parent company:

http://en.volkerwessels.com/en/about-us/integrity

"Whistle-blowing Scheme

All VolkerWessels staff, regardless of their position, can report suspected wrongdoing within VolkerWessels. Submitting such a report does not have any impact on the informant or his/her position, provided that the notification occurs in accordance with the procedure especially developed for this purpose. The procedure and the actions resulting from the notification are described below...."

So if anyone across the water from you knows who's busy doing anything naughty they can feel confident in reporting up the line, and presumably when outside questions are asked, VolkerFitzpatrick will feel honour bound by the VolkerWessels / Wessels family principles of integrity to provide an honest answer and demonstrate how they have proceeded to respond to the issue.

Just in case you all did decide to go and show Dik Wessels what it's like to be woken up in the early morning by his employs I'm afraid you'll have to go by Eurostar. He lives in the Ducth town of Rijssen - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rijssen(sixth richest man in Holland, with a fortune of 2 billion euros - he can afford a good pair of earplugs)

Sóna did you get the latest missive from the so called 'community relations team'?I thought you had got a promise out of them that they would definetly NOT be doing ANY Sunday work on the IBC MPC portakabins?! What went wrong? Please call me.Matt

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